Black Cherry
Prunus serotina · Deciduous broadleaf hardwood
Plant Family
Rosaceae
Tree Category
Shade Tree, Forest Tree, Timber Tree, Flowering
Variety / Cultivar
Wild species, no specific cultivar identified
Hardiness Zones
Thrives in USDA Hardiness Zones 3 through 9, adapting to a wide range of temperate climatic conditions
About This Tree
A medium to large deciduous tree with a rounded crown, dense foliage, and moderate to fast growth rate. Known for its valuable reddish-brown hardwood timber and drooping clusters of white flowers followed by dark cherries.
Leaf Characteristics
Simple, alternate leaves, oblong-lanceolate to elliptic, 2 to 6 inches long, finely serrated margins, glossy dark green above, paler underneath with distinctive brownish hairs along the midrib near the base
Bark Characteristics
Dark gray to almost black, smooth with horizontal lenticels when young, breaking up into small, irregular, scaly plates resembling burnt cornflakes on older trunks
Growing Information
Origin Region
Native to eastern and southeastern North America, well-adapted to temperate deciduous forests
Growing Season
Leafs out in early spring, blooms in mid-spring with white racemes, produces fruit in late summer, enters dormancy in late autumn
Sunlight & Water Needs
Prefers full sun to partial shade. Requires moderate moisture and well-draining soil, with moderate drought tolerance once established
Mature Size
Expected mature height of 50 to 80 feet, spread of 35 to 60 feet, moderate to fast growth rate, and a lifespan of up to 150 to 200 years
Special Characteristics
Valuable cabinet-grade hardwood timber, beautiful spring blossoms, shiny ornamental bark, and high susceptibility to black knot fungus and eastern tent caterpillars
Wildlife & Ecology
Extremely high ecological value; supports numerous butterfly and moth caterpillars, provides cherries consumed by dozens of bird species and mammals, and offers nesting sites